The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a scathing response to Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s claim that a law enforcement operation over the weekend, which resulted in the seizure of illegal drugs and weapons and arrests of illegal aliens with violent histories, was “not focused” on making Nashville “safer.”
On Sunday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) carried out an operation in Middle Tennessee which included around 150 traffic stops and, as a result, saw the arrests of individuals on outstanding warrants, including people suspected of having gang affiliation, and the seizure of illegal guns and drugs.
During the operation in Tennessee, ICE agents arrested a convicted child sex predator, a member of Tren de Aragua, an individual convicted of aggravated assault, and multiple aliens with drug charges. The Nashville Mayor should want these criminal illegal aliens off American… pic.twitter.com/27UVncviTk
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 6, 2025
In response, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell released a statement—in English and Spanish—denouncing the law enforcement operation, claiming that such actions were not conducted with the goal of “keeping people safe.”
“Our top priority is keeping people safe, and we’re deeply concerned that what appear to be federal actions are making that harder,” O’Connell said following the operation on Sunday.
“This type of federal enforcement action is not focused on making us safer and leaves people in our community fearing any interaction with law enforcement when there is a crime occurring,” O’Connell added.
O’Connell also spoke to reporters on Monday, claiming that the law enforcement agencies that conducted the operation caused “deep community harm.”
The mayor also encouraged Nashvillians to donate to a fundraiser called “The Belonging Fund” which funds nonprofit organizations offering “emergency assistance” to immigrants in Middle Tennessee “during times of crisis.”
On Tuesday, DHS revealed that among the individuals arrested in Tennessee on Sunday during the law enforcement operation were a convicted child sex predator, a member of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, an individual convicted of aggravated assault, and multiple illegal aliens with drug charges.
In a post on X, DHS responded to O’Connell’s statement denouncing the Sunday operation by saying that the mayor “should want these criminal illegal aliens off American streets.”
“Attacks and demonization of our brave law enforcement is wrong. ICE officers are now facing a 413% increase in assaults,” DHS said.
“President Trump campaigned on immigration enforcement, the American people voted for it, and DHS is delivering,” the agency added.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
So, basically this mayor is letting everyone who cares about their safety and the laws of this country to either relocate from Nashville or to stay away entirely! Thanks for the advice